I often dream of what it would be like to have wealth, stature, and peace … to have Thomas. He is all those things wrapped into such a striking package. That’s exactly what he is to me—everything that I want.

I find myself constantly fiddling with the necklace, wishing it was a magical amulet that could summon him at my will.

But I guess I shall have to wait.

It’s all I can do, besides dream of Thomas and the Nightingale House …

13

“Come on, Dad!” Caitlyn cries as she races towards the water’s edge.

“I’m coming,” I call after her. I’m really dragging.

It’s Sunday. At least, I think it’s Sunday. The days are starting to blur.

I’m honoring my promise to Caitlyn that we would go swimming today, but I made that promise before I had endured endless sleepless nights, and before I spent this morning clearing the weeds from my search for Nicole’s ring, but Caitlyn held up her end of the bargain with her homework throughout the week.

She runs into the water and falls down with a laugh.

I gingerly dip my foot in the water and pull it back.

“It’s freezing!”

“No, it’s not!” Caitlyn says, slapping her arms on the surface.

“It’s ice-cold, you polar bear!”

“You promised!”

“Ugh. Fine.”

I’m not joking. It feels like it’s subzero. I hesitantly ease myself forward, hissing as the water creeps up my legs and let out an audible gasp as I submerge my … waist. The sand below my feet is coarse, but gradually becomes a soft mud as I advance.

I continue my theatrics of adjusting to the water as Caitlyn slowly swims up behind me.

“Come on, Dad! You just gotta go under real quick and it’ll be over. It won’t be cold.”

“Yes, it will!”

“No, it won’t,” she says, creeping closer.

I point a finger at her. “You stay away from me.”

She giggles and swims, like a shark approaching its prey.

“Stay away!”

“Daaaaaad …”

“Noooooooo!” I pretend like I’m going to run for the shore, but I go really, really slowly. “Leave me alone!”

Caitlyn swims up behind me and launches onto my shoulders.

I cry out as I allow her to push my head under the water.

OH MY GOD! IT’S SO COLD!

But Caitlyn’s right. The shock is brief. I can hear her muffled laughter through water.

I bob back to the surface. She’s still hanging on my shoulders. I can stand on the bottom but she can’t.

“You’re mean,” I tell her.

“I was helping you.”

“Yeah. Some help you are,” I say, wiping my eyes and nose.